Public Health And The Dimension Of Commercial Interest: Ethical Dimension Of Pharmacy
- IJLLR Journal
- Oct 19
- 2 min read
Aina Singh Dhurve & Kamal Nayan Singh
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacy is the science that directly relates with the wellbeing of humans and it also works on the principle of Profit, so there is always a point where commercial interest conflict with the professional integrity and public health. In the world of modern science where profits based environment where the industry operates between the dilemma of financial gain and professional conduct and welfare of individuals. The essence of pharmacy, as it is considered as both science and profession based on well-being of human not solely depend upon the profits, which focuses on the compassion, fairness and accountability. Institute of Pharmacy is not only vested with the dispensing of medicine also vested with the interest of safeguarding the lives as well, rational use of drugs and preventing the harm of humans.
Pharmacy is also considered as course of action which strictly adhere to the moral duties and its accountability towards the client. These principles bind this profession towards the best interest of patient, uphold truth in communication to maintain the medical environment. Ethical practice in pharmacy ensures that commercial motives never overthrown the fundamental responsibility of protecting and promoting public health. However, significantly increasing commercialization of the healthcare sector manifested through overpricing, misleading advertising, and aggressive marketing of the lifesaving drugs which also poses severe ethical challenges before the law. The tussle between profits and patient’s welfare is ultimate dilemma as access to essential medicine is human right and right of justice.
There is very long tussle between commercial profit and human welfare creates challenge and to counter these there is exhaustive legal and judicial framework regulates the profession of pharmacy, there are various legislation such as the Drug ( Price Control) Order, 2013, The Essential Commodities Act 1955, and the Consumer Protection Act 2019, which ensures and regulates the healthcare accessible and affordable to poor, and to effectively safeguards these rights Indian Judiciary through various landmark judgement and pronouncement which upheld the ethics and welfare of human remains the utmost priority which is based on the commodity based on the trust of Public.
Thus these principle of welfare must be in accordance with the commercial interest but surely avoid the over pricing and also ensures the they should act as trader and to protect the human health and dignity.
